Pump device



Nov. 9, 1954 s w TROUT 2,693,899

PUMP DEVICE Filed June 30, 1951 I79. INVENTOR.

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HIS AITTOHAZ'Y United Sttes Patent PUMP DEVICE Sheridan W. Trout, Jeannette, Pa.

Application June 30, 1951, Serial No. 234,573

8 Claims. (Cl. 222341) My invention relates to pump devices, and particularly to pistol type pump devices of the pressure or ejector type.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide pistol type pump devices adapted for manual operation in which oil or other fluid in a container is pumped through a nozzle to the point of application by a pumping mechanism incorporating a piston operating Within a cylinder fitted with a ball-check or butterfly valve arranged to open and permit the inflow of fluid to the cylinder during the intake stroke of the piston, and to close during the working stroke of the piston to build up a pressure for forcing the fluid through the discharge nozzle. In such an arrangement the pumping mechanism'is usually operated by a pump lever or handle freely or loosely mounted on the cap of the oil container and operatively connected with the pump mechanism for actuating the latter.

It is an object .of my invention to provide novel and improved forms of pistol type pump devices incorporating a positive feed type of pump mechanism operated by a pump lever pivotally mounted on the cap of the fluid container.

Another object is to provide an improved form of pump mechanism adapted for use in a pistol type pump device.

A further object is to provide an improved form of mounting the operating lever of such pump mechanism for providing an accurate and sensitive control of the amount of fluid discharged.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved form of pistol type pump device arranged for ease in manufacturing and assembly.

The above-mentioned and other important objects and characteristic features of my invention which will be described in more detail hereinafter in the specification, are attained in accordance with my invention by utilizing a piston in a cooperating cylinder, providing the cylinder with an intake port uncovered by the piston at the upper portion of its intake stroke, providing the piston with a passage containing a one-way or check valve permitting fluid to pass in one direction through the passage, and in effecting relative motion between the cylinder and piston by means of an operating lever mounted on the cap of the container for movement about a fulcrum or fulcrums.

I shall describe one form of pistol type pump device embodying my invention and shall then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of a pistol type pump device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing a modification of the nozzle 11 illustrated in Fig. 1.

In each of the several views, similar reference characters refer to similar parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 5 designates a fluid container or can, preferably cylindrical in shape and provided at its lower end with a fitted or swaged base flange 6 permitting the container 5 to stand upright. The container 5 preferably is of a size that can be conveniently grasped by hand, and is formed at its upper end with suitable convolutions or threads to receive a threaded cap or lid 7. The lid 7 is preferably fitted internally with a gasket 8 of cork or other suitable gasket material so that it may be screwed down tightly on container 5 and provide a fluid-tight seal.

Mounted on lid 7 is a bracket or pivot member 9 having a base leg secured to the lid and the other leg .formed in an arcuate shape hereinafter described. The lid 7 with its gasket 8, and the base leg of bracket 9, are punched or pierced with a pair of aligned openings, in one of which is mounted a tube 10 having one end projecting downwardly from the lid into container 5 when the lid and container are assembled together, and with its other end projecting outwardly from the axis of the container and terminating with a nozzle 11 threaded or otherwise secured to its other end. As shown, nozzle 11 may be provided with a check valve in the form of a spring biasing a ball into engagement with a seat formed in the nozzle, to prevent the flow of fluid from the nozzle except under pressure. The tube 10 is bent in a smooth curve (see Figs. 1 and 3) to provide an initial fulcrum or pivot for an operating lever 18 hereinafter described and the one end of the tube projecting outwardly from the lid is inserted through a slotted opening 12 formed in the arcuate leg of bracket 9 so as to be secured by that member. The tube 10 after being assembled in this manner is secured in any suitable manner, as by soldering, into the aligned openings in the base leg of bracket 9 and lid 7, thereby securing the tube, bracket and lid together and forming a fluid-tight seal.

The base leg of bracket 9-has its other opening, which aligns with a matching opening in lid 7, formed near the end of the base leg and that leg is secured to the lid as by a hollow rivet 13 inserted into these aligned openings and riveted down. Mounted inside the hollow rivet is an actuating rod 14 for the pump mechanism hereinafter re- 7 The lever 18 is preferably formed of an integral piece of material bent in a smooth curve to provide two legs extending substantially at right angles to each other, with one leg extending from a point just beyond the lid, across the lid to the rod 14, and the other leg extending from the same point downwardly alongside the container 5. This downwardly extending leg is provided with a slotted opening 19 through which tube 10 passes freely. The lever 18 is formed with an arcuate shape which in general conforms to the arcuate shape of the free leg of bracket 9, which bracket also serves (in addition to the top of the smooth curve formed in tube 10) as a fulcrum or pivot about which lever 18 may be rotated (see Fig. 3).

The one end of tube 10, and the actuating rod 14, cooperate to provide relative motion between the piston and cylinder elements of a pumping mechanism hereinafter described, when lever 18 is swung about its point of support on tube 10 or bracket 9. To eifect this, a piston 20 mounted in a cooperating cylinder 21, is secured as by threads to the lower end (as viewed in Fig. 1) of tube 10. The piston 20 is provided throughout its length with an internal passage 22, the upper end (as viewed in Fig. 1) of which is enlarged to receive the lower end of tube 10. A spring 23 and ball 24 are disposed between the end of tube 10, and the lower end of the enlarged portion of passage 22, with the ball resting on the shoulders defining the enlarged portion of the passage to provide a ball-check or one-way valve action. The cylinder 21 is formed with an inlet port 25 which is uncovered by piston 20 in the upper portion of its stroke, and preferably as shown the inlet port 25 is carried through an extension of the body of cylinder 21 so as to project downwardly and open out of that body at or near the lowest point of the cylinder.

The lower end (as viewed in Fig. l) of actuating rod 14 is secured in any convenient manner to the body of cylinder 21, and the spring 15 surrounding rod 14 is confined between an abutment formed on the cylinder body, and the washers 16 and 17 at the lid 7 to urge cylinder body 21 to its lowermost position, and to bias Patented Nov. 9, 1954 lever '18 to the position shown. The parts will be so proportioned that with piston 20 secured to tube 10, and cylinder body 21 attached to actuating rod 14, lid 7 can be attached to container 5 with the bottom of cylinder body 21 just clearing the base of the container when the parts are in their normal position represented by Fig. 1.

It will now be assumed that container 5 represented in Fig. 1 is partially filled with oil or other liquid to a level above that at which passage 25 opens out of the cylinder body in the position shown, and that the parts are in the condition represented in the drawing. In this condition, cylinder 21 is in communication with the fluid through passage 25, and the cylinder is filled with such fluid, as will be pointed out hereinafter. Lever 18 at this time rests against the smooth curve formed in tube so that if the container 5 is grasped with the fingers extending around the lower leg of lever 18, the fingers may be contracted to swing the lower leg of lever 18 about its point of support on tube 10 toward the container 5, thereby lifting the other leg of lever 18 away from lid 7 and raising actuating rod 14. Piston 20 fixed to the lower end of tube 10 remains stationary, but the body of cylinder 21 is raised upwardly by rod 14, and after the first slight portion of this movement, piston 20 covers the opening of passage 25 into the cylinder. Further movement of the body of cylinder 21 relative to piston 20 at this time compresses the fluid in the cylinder and builds up a pressure which forces ball 24 away from its seat in passage 22 against the bias of spring 23, permitting the fluid to pass upwardly into tube 10. The rod 14 is suitably bent as shown in Fig. 1 so that its upper portion has a straight line movement, and if the lever 18 is moved through its complete stroke the cylinder 21 will continue to rise relative to piston 20 until the bent portion of rod 14 encounters the washer 16, at which point the bottom of cylinder 21 is at or very close to the bottom of piston 20. During the stroke of lever 18, if the tube 10 was previously filled with fluid (held against descent into cylinder 21 by the ball check valve) the introduction of fluid from cylinder 21 into the tube will eject fluid under pressure through the nozzle 11, While if the tube 10 is initially empty, repeated strokes of lever 18 will first cause tube 10 to become filled, and when that is accomplished further strokes of the lever will result in the ejection of fluid during each stroke.

In the operation of lever 18 previously described, the lever during the first portion of its stroke is supported or pivoted on tube 10, with that support being shifted over to bracket leg 9 when lever 18 is swung suflicient- 1y to raise rod 14 to the extent required for port 25 to be closed by piston 20. The point at which lever 18 rides ofl tube 10 onto bracket 9 can be easily detected if the lever is worked slowly, and the parts are so proportioned that if the lever is moved so that it just rides ofl tube 10 into engagement with bracket 9, a single drop of fluid will be forced out of nozzle 11, thereby providing an accurate and sensitive control of the amount of fluid discharged. This control is aided by the use in the nozzle 11 of the ball check valve (which also functions to prevent fluid from running out of tube 10 should can 5 be toppled over or placed in any position other than its upright position), and the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 is therefore well adapted for use as an oiler device for lubricating oils. It is of course to be understood that the device will project a stream of fluid from nozzle 11 if the stroke of lever 18 is continued past the point at which the lever rides on bracket 9 (rather than being stopped there) with the carry of the stream being controlled by the rate at which lever 18 is operated.

The lever 18 when actuated to lift rod 14, works against the bias of spring 15 so that when lever 18 is released, the spring 15 will return rod 14 to its lowermost position in which lever 18 is swung to the position represented in the drawings, and cylinder 21 is returned to its lowermost position. In this operation, a partial vacuum is created in cylinder 21 which together with the bias of spring 23 results in ball 24 seating it- 'self on the shoulders of passage 22 to seal that pas- After the cylinder reaches substantially piston 20, and fluid is drawn in through passage 25 to fill the cylinder, so that when the parts are restored to 1 event the structure of Fig. 1 modified to incorporate 1 or undesired flow of fluid from the device.

its full-down position, the inlet port through which pas 4 sage 25 communicates with cylinder 21 is uncovered by nozzle 11a will function as a sprayer for fluids. It is believed that the operation of this modified structure will be obvious from the foregoing description.

It is, of course, to be understood that while I have herein described my pistol type pump device as comprising a container provided with a separable lid, the lid and container may if desired be fastened or secured together in any convenient manner, as by soldering, in which event an opening may be provided in the lid or container to permit the container to be filled with or drained of fluid, and of course such an opening may be closed ofl by a screw cap, a cork or any other suitable closure. In the description, therefore, the term lid may embrace either a separable lid, such as 7 shown in the drawings, or a nondetachable lid or top affixed to the container.

It should be noted that I have provided a pistol type pump device adapted for use either as an oiler or sprayer in which the operating lever is provided with a point or points of support about which to be rotated during the actuating stroke of the lever, thereby relieving the operating rod 14 acting within the rivet 13 from much of the side thrust which it would otherwise be subjected to in the absence of pivotally supporting the operating lever. In other words, the upper portion of the smooth curve formed in tube 10 acts as a fulcrum for lever 18 during the first portion of its stroke, and during the later portion bracket 9 acts as a fulcrum so that rod 14 has exerted on it substantially only a vertical force with little or no horizontal component or side thrust. As a result of relatively small amount of force exerted in a horizontal direction on rod 14 such as would give rise to a side thrust, the rod is substantially free from binding in rivet 13 and there is substantially no tendency for the rod to cut through the rivet. The arrangement is thus such that the forces exerted by lever 18 on rod 14 are substantially of the nature to cause the rod to operate freely within rivet 13 in straight-line up and down movement.

A further advantage of my arrangement is the provision of two fulcrums for the operating lever 18, with the upper portion of the smooth curve of tube 10 functioning as a fulcrum during the first portion of the stroke of lever 18, and the lever riding ofi that fulcrum onto the bracket leg 9 which serves as a fulcrum for the later portions of the stroke. This riding-01f feature is utilized by proper proportioning of the parts to provide for an accurate and sensitive control of the amount of fluid to be discharged, and permits the piston type device to be used (with its long spout) to apply a controlled amount of oil or other fluid to the desired point of application of the fluid.

It should be further noted that the operating lever pivoted or fulcrumed in the manner described provides an improved operating structure for effecting relative movement between a piston and a cooperating cylinder provided with an inlet port arranged to permit operation with low levels of fluid in the container, while the check valves in the discharge tube and the nozzle provide for maintaining pressure in the tube and prevent accidental In addition, the device may be used to discharge fluid either in a spray or a stream, and the latter arrangement also permits the discharge of a small, controlled amount of fluid, so that the device may be operated to discharge fluid in either or both a controlled small amount or a stream.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of device embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: 1. In a pistol type pump device for discharging fluid in either or both a controlled small amount and a stream, comprising the combination with a container for fluid and a pump mechanism in said container, an operating lever operatively connected with saidpump mechanism, a discharge spout in communication w th said pump mechanism and projecting from said container, a fulcrum'member supported from said container and located w1th respect-to said discharge spoutand said operating lever to form with said discharge spout a pair of fulcrums for said operating lever arranged so that the lever rides off the first of the pair of fulcrums onto the second of such pair at a point at which a controlled small amount of fluid is discharged from said pump mechanism, whereby the controlled small amount of fluid is discharged if the stroke of said operating lever is terminated at that point and a stream of fluid is discharged if the stroke is continued.

2. In a pistol type pump device for discharging fluid in either or both a controlled small amount and a stream, comprising the combination with a container for fluid and a pump mechanism in said container communicating with a discharge tube and actuated by an operating lever, of a ball check valve in said tube permitting fluid under pressure to flow from said pump mechanism into said tube but not from said tube into said pump mechanism, a fulcrum member supported from said container and cooperating with said discharge tube to provide a pair of fulcrums for said operating lever disposed relative to said lever so that the lever is initially pivoted about one of said fulcrums and rides off onto the second of said fulcrums at a determinable point in the stroke of said lever at which a controlled small amount of fluid is discharged from said pump mechanism, whereby the controlled small amount of fluid is discharged if said lever is operated only about said first fulcrum and a stream of fluid is discharged if said lever is operated about both said fulcrums.

3. In a pistol type pump device for discharging fluid in either or both a small controlled amount and a stream, the combination with a container for fluid and a lid secured to the container, a discharge tube having one end projecting through said lid into said container and its other end projecting away from said container to provide a discharge spout, said discharge tube being formed adjacent its point of entry into said lid with a fulcrum or bearing surface, piston means carried by the said one end of said discharge tube and provided with a passage communicating with said tube, a cylinder cooperating with said piston means and provided with an intake port uncovered when said piston means is substantially withdrawn from said cylinder, an operating lever operatively connected with said cylinder for effecting relative motion between said piston means and said cylinder, said operating lever being initially fulcrumed on said tube fulcrum surface during the first portion of its stroke, and another fulcrum member secured to said lid and positioned relative to the said tube fulcrum surface to permit said operating lever to ride off said surface and become fulcrumed on said member during the latter portion of the stroke of said operating lever.

4. In a pistol type pump device for discharging fluid in either or both a small controlled amount and a stream, the combination with a container for fluid and a lid secured to the container, a discharge tube having one end projecting through said lid into said container and its other end projecting away from said container to provide a discharge spout, a nozzle for said spout having a check valve permitting fluid to flow only under pressure from said nozzle, said discharge tube being formed adjacent its point of entry into said lid with a fulcrum or bearing surface, piston means carried by the said one end of said discharge tube and provided with a passage communicating with said tube, a cylinder cooperating with said piston means and provided with an intake port uncovered when said piston means is substantially withdrawn from said cylinder, an operating lever operatively connected with said cylinder for effecting relative motion between said piston means and said being initially fulcrumed on said tube fulcrum surface during the first portion of its stroke, and another fulcrum member secured to said lid and positioned relative to the said tube fulcrum surface to permit said operating lever to ride off said surface and become fulcrumed on said member during the latter portion of the stroke of said operating lever.

5. In a pistol type pump device for discharging fluid in either or both a small controlled amount and a stream, the combination with a container for fluid and a lid cylinder, said operating lever.

'6 secured toithevc'ontain'ena discharge tube having one end projecting. through said lid into sa1d.conta1ner and its other end projecting away from said container to provide a discharge spout, a nozzle for said spout havmga check valve permitting fluid to flow only under pressure from saidnozzle, said discharge tube being formed adjacent its point of entry into .said. lid with a fulcrum-or bearing surface, piston means carried by the said one end of said discharge tube and provided with a passage communicating with said tube, a ,check valve in said tube permitting fluid to flow from said passage into said tube but not from said tube into said passage, a cylinder cooperating with said piston means and provided with an intake port uncovered when said piston means is substantially withdrawn from said cylinder, an operating lever operatively connected with said cylinder for eifecting relative motion between said piston means and said cylinder, said operating lever being initially fulcrumed on said tube fulcrum surface during the first portion of its stroke,

and another fulcrum member secured to said lid and positioned relative to the said tube fulcrum surface to permit said operating lever to ride off said surface and become fulcrumed on said member during the latter portion of the stroke of said operating lever.

6. In combination, a container to receive fluid, a lid for said container, a tube projecting through said lid into said container and having a check valve permitting fluid to flow from said container into said tube but not from said tube into said container, piston means carried by said tube and having a passage communicating with said tube through said check valve, a cylinder cooperating with said piston means and provided with an intake port uncovered when said piston means is substantially withdrawn from said cylinder and opening into said container at substantially its lowest point, an operating lever, an operating rod mounted in said lid for straight up and down movement and connected between said lever and said cylinder whereby to effect--relative motion between said piston means and said cylinder, and means carried by said lid fulcruming said operating lever for imparting a straight line up and down movement to said operating rod by a force substantially free of side thrust.

7. In a pistol type pump device having a container for receiving fluid and a lid secured to the container and provided with a discharge tube having one end projecting through the lid into the container when the lid is secured thereto, a piston having a longitudinal passage throughout its length and mounted on said one end of said tube, a check valve mounted in said tube above said piston permitting fluid to flow from the passage of said piston into said tube but not from the tube into the passage of said piston, a cooperating cylinder for said piston having an inlet port opening into said container at substantially its lowest point, said inlet port being covered by said piston except in the extreme limit of its stroke, a bracket secured to said lid, an operating lever slidably fulcrumed on said bracket, and an operating rod extending through said lid and connected between said operating lever and said cylinder whereby to move said cylinder relative to said piston upon movement of said operating lever about its point of fulcruming on said bracket.

8. In combination, a container to receive fluid, a lid for said container, a tube having one end projecting through said lid into said container and having a ball check valve permitting fluid to flow from said container into said tube but not from said tube into said container, said tube being formed with a fulcrum surface adjacent its point of entry into said lid, piston means carried by said one end of the tube and having a passage communicating with said tube through said ball check valve, a cylinder cooperating with said piston means and provided with an intake port uncovered when said piston means is substantially withdrawn from saidcylinder and opening into said container at a low point thereof, an operating lever fulcrumed on said tube fulcrum surface, a fulcrum member supported by said lid and disposed so that said operating lever rides off said tube fulcrum surface onto sald fulcrum member at a point intermediate the ends of the stroke of said operating member, and an operating rod pro ecting through said lid and connected between said lever and said cylinder whereby to effect relative motion between said piston means and said cylinder upon moving said operating lever to impart a vertical force free of side thrust upon said operating rod.

(References on following page) References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 1,700,782 Westwood Feb. 1929 5 1,862,083 Hagstrom June 7, 1932 1,947,088 Johnson Feb. 13, 1934 8 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 28, 1940 Denmark Sept. 17, 1945 

